I read that a few times as "My bodybuilding criteria...."...

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Jim

Modelling life would be alot harder without them.

I find OOB reviews very useful as it does highlight what comes packaged in the box. I most certainly buy products and books based on the reviews found both here and on PMMS.

The kind of reviews i find most lacking in most sites are the ones when the kit is fully built. Getting review/feedback from someone who has completed the built is just as important as what comes out of the box. Jim Lewis had some good articles on his site on the kits he had built and that gave me quite a good picture on what to expect. This doesnt have to detail each step he/she took to complete the build, just highlight in general the obstacles that was faced during the build and what was better in this kit compared to a similar brand.

With that in mind, it would be great if we could still allow unsolicited reviews but perhaps have a special section for it?

With models coming out at a rate that can not possibly be kept up with by a builder, reviews or other's builds are invaluable to making a purchase. I have almost gotten to a point where if there is no available WIP, or at the very least, an in-box review, I will not purchase a kit untill there is one. I like the normal build-ups by a formal reviewer, previews that give us a great heads up well before we see them in stores, or just us 'average joes' in a WIP thread on the forums either way. They're all helpful.

They all work together, as an in-box can not cover all possible fit issues, but they lead to a lot of WIP threads that really break it down, or find kit/instruction errors for those bringing up the rear. I don't think that WIP threads step on the toes of any reviewers either, and some of the aftermarket is influenced by online oppinions as kits get built. Ship models are even more critical then armor due to the time and money investment they can lead to. A Nimitz-class carrier project can take 3 years, I want to know if its worth getting excited about, or at the very least, if the hull fits, or if the 7 huge sheets of PE I am about to throw down big bucks on is going to make the model I want.

I think it's important to note here, that although this site can no longer accept unsolicited reviews for various reasons, build up reviews can and will still be published as feature articles, and we encourage all users to take lots of pictures as they build and then submit them along with a text document as a build feature.
Don't forget, if you produce good build features, it's quite likely we'll actually supply your next kit for you to do a build feature on!

Vinnie

My military schedule keeps me so busy that I rely almost solely on the news and reviews provided here on Armorama. I subscribe to FSM and buy MMIR when it is published but Armorama is my "one stop shop".

The news and reviews here have influenced my buying decisions as well.

ah so they are classified as build features as oppose to reviews then. Thats good news.

So it almost sounds like non build reviews are the only ones that are classified as unsolicited? By non build, i mean just simply reviewing the kit while they are on the sprues. What happens if a build feature includes a section on what came in the box?

I certainly like the reviews. They have been the deciding factor on several of the kits I've purchased or not purchased. I have to say I only seem to pay attention to them when they are featured on the homepage.

Im pretty sure 'review' is the actual formal reviews listed and filed in the site's review section, as opposed to just a normal thread in Feedback or AFV...

I find the news and reviews very useful. News and reviews have drawn my attention towards manufacturers, kits and products I didn't know existed.

I like the news breakers and OOB reviews. Based on these, it would go about 50% towards making my mind up on whether I buy an item or not. Subject matter still has a big say though.
I like PMMS as well. I flick through the Frank/Cookie reviews on ML, particulary those that Im interested in, but generally like reviews with images .... a pictures worth a 1000 words and all that!
Build reviews are definately the most helpful/useful. There could never be enough of these.


Well played Vinnie. I think its great that the site encourages more of this.

Thanks Frank! Just to clarify things for others, we no longer accept unsolicited reviews, and that would normally mean reviews that would feature on the right hand side of the front page under 'Reviews'. If somebody has a build feature, then that would normally be featured on the left hand side of the front page and we actively encourage these, even though there may be an element of 'review' contained within them.

We are soon to begin asking people to write full-build features for the site using materials sent to the site that have previously been the subject of 'in-box' reviews. Obviously, people who have already shown that they can write features will be favoured. That's another reason to get some build features under your belt now!

Vinnie

My $AUD0.02 (worth bugger all anywhere else). The way it looks like heading is good. Reviews by different people at different points. I love the "quick look" reviews. It gives me a view of what to expect if I buy the kit tomorrow. Add a different reviewer for a build review (not long after the OOB review would be good) and I think you guys will have nailed it.

Cheers

I like the news of up-coming kits, but i find in-box reviews less than useful. One site gave a good in-box review of the Alan Bison 1 kit and I purchased the kit based on that review. What a load of @#$#. Next to unbuildable! Basicly, you need to purchase a DML Pz1 AusF. B kit and modify the Alan Armor and gun to fit it. Then pitch the rest of the Alan kit.

Now, I wait for a good BLOG before purchasing any new kit.

I really like the news about upcoming kits. That lets me know what's coming down the pike without having to go to the LHS and see it there. I normally buy most of my kits online now.

I don't buy kits based on a review, but I do read them all and later on when I do purchase the kit, I'll go back and reread the review looking for any problems that I may encounter.

I would like to see some build articles on some of the older kits available. Sometimes you pick up an old kit a show or on ebay and then cannot find any decent material about the kit.

Patrick

Speaking personally, I concur 100% with the desire that many have expressed to see more Build-Reviews on the site. However, this creates many logistical problems...

The majority of our reviews are AM items such as PE sets, new kits actually contribute a minority of the reviews. Now, taking this to its logical extreme, doing a full-build on a PE set, necessitates getting hold of the donor kit and adding the item - o.k. perhaps for a gun barrel, not so easy if you get three update sets for Trumpeter's BR52...

Secondly, on the same subject, if you are getting a batch of new kits from DML (sometimes 4 arrive at the same time) just where does the time come in to do a full-build on 4 armor kits (of diverse subjects)?

Thirdly, the review material is 'allocated' on a more 'specialized' level (NOT 'Experts', people who are more comfortable with the subject matter) this takes time - material has to be sent out to the reviewer, causing delay...

Finally, (and this may be rather contentious) many people sit back waiting for reviews to appear on the site. In the past, peole have been asked for reviews of models they have posted in the forums, many times, we haven't even had an answer...

I agree that SOME reviews of older kits would be desirable, however, IMO, the priority must remain of posting reviews of NEW releases. There may well be a case to be made of creating space for this kind of review, but at the end of the day, much of this will depend on the kind of response that is received from the Site Users - it's not something that can be demanded...Jim

And to clarify the clarification... Armorama no longer accepts unsolicited reviews. The rest of the sites in the KitMaker Network still do.

Jim

This is a good point. Many times I see an older kit (I'm talking 5 yrs or so, not ancient kits) on sale on eBay real cheap. I then try to find a review of some type to see if the kit is worth buying at all. Many sites' reviews only go back a few years.

While you can still google a lot of the old Cookie Sewell reviews on RMS, his reviews are mainly in box and no photos. Online reviews have matured into either in box with photos or build up reviews. His old reviews are still valuable material, but they are normally not always enough.

I utilize the News much more. I have to admit that an overwhelming majority of the news articles do not draw my interest. However you still have to read them all because every now and then there is that hidden gem from some lesser known company (MB and Mini Art come to mind) with something that really catches my eye. I have been much more influenced with my kit purchases from the News than the Reviews. At IPMS Nationals in Kansas City I was looking for MB and Mini Art kits after reading about them in the news. Found them at the DragonUSA vendor table. Recent news confirmation of the Dragon M4A2 and Dragon M2 halftrack had me actually holding off other kit purchases to spend money on these!! (That has got to be good news for advertisers)

I don't know if Previews are considered Reviews or News, like the recent Dragon US M2 Halftrack with all the sprue pics and Euromilitaire built up pics. These previews usually come after it hits the News section and confirmed release but before they hit the shelves from someone with inside knowledge. I enjoy the previews, especially if it's something I was interested in when I read the News. Previews usually keep me excited about an upcoming release.

I don't use the Reviews much. It sounds as if reviews will now be done by invitation only. That does not appeal to me as reviews will be coming from the same group over and over. I prefer a wider opinion from newbies that have never built a kit or submitted a review to the veteran builder who has done it all. I don't like the formalized template of reviews (all sites). Somehow to me a formal review has to pass some sort of editorial approval and meet minimum criteria. There is something about having to submit a minimum number of words or a certain quality of picture that makes the rules of submission more important than the content. I would much rather someone starts a free wheeling thread on a kit. I just want to know what the builder thinks even if it's just the few words "the X kit rocks!" or the "Y kits sucks rocks" with or without a few pics. I'm sure the contributors work hard to get a quality write up but I prefer to get my reviews in the informal threads. I don’t think that there have been too many reviews that have influenced my purchase decision.

I tend to use News and Reviews AFTER I've bought a kit or upgrade set or whatever. I know this seems odd but I'll explain. I tend to buy based on what pleases me, what my history with that particular manufacturer is and what the status is of my pocketbook and my mood at the time. After I have the kit at home and start poking around in it is when I go to News and Reviews to see if there are things to watch out for like engineering goof-ups, innacuracies and recommended fixes. I try to do my own reserach and the benefit of all of this 'uber experience' really helps me with the progress of a build. I especially find the reviews useful for this because usually the reviewer will make mention of things to watch out for and this helps me modify the kit if necessary.

Bob

The basic CRITERIA for a review is coherence. The reason this site (as others) have editors is simple - to maintain a MINIMUM level of quality in the content (added content, not the posts in the forums). I'm afraid I find your commentsabout the rules slightly offensive. They aren't put in place without reason - they are done so that YOU (the site user) can get a well-considered technical analysis of a product. No, it doesn't 'sounds as if reviews will now be done by invitation only' don't be unclear about it - that is EXACTLY how it is: a decision taken by Armorama's ME i.e. an item called Management Function. As you are more than aware of this policy, I wonder why exactly you have brought it up again?

Oh, FYI, News is information about New, Recent or Future releases - they aren't 'previews' or reviews and no, discussing an item in the Forums isn't a review either...Thanks, Jim

Jim. What is your disconnect? You ask the question whether or not we like the New and Reviews. I give you my opinion (which 2/3 of what I wrote supported the News and whatever classification the Previews fall into) and you get offended? I even gave kudos for being able to influence my purchases, which has got to be one of the main reasons you have News. I also acknowledged that the review contributors worked hard.

If all you wanted were YES or NO answers then post a poll. I gave a very constructive answer. I'm done

Im actually in favour of the reviews coming from the same group over and over ... especially when they maintain a certain style and sift out clearly, and consistently, the information modellers want to read about. As Fred says he waits now on blogs ... this goes to show what a poor review can do.

Making reviews comes with a certain amount of responsibility ... "you´re only as good as your last review" type thing. If you buy a kit based on a review and you consider the reviewer´s points of view, if hes got it right, you´re gonna want to look for more. If gets it wrong ... how many kits will you buy based on his reviews afterwards?
Reviewing is also a thankless job. A single review will never please every modeller ... too much detail and "nit-picking (?)" ... the newbie is put off, not enough detail / nit-picking.... the more advanced modeller slates the review. Make a wrong statement .. your name is in neon lights over every modelling site on the web, as has happened to some of the most experienced reviewers in the business lately.
I dont think its written in stone who this group are either. Im sure if a suitable candidate shows apptitude over time/build reviews they would be invited to join "the group" .

I use this site, PMMS and The Hobby Link Japan; http://www.hlj.com
to get my reviews.
I absolutely use these reviews to purchase my kits. Buying a kit without hearing what others have to say about it is like "Buying a pig in a poke" as my grandmother used to say. It just makes good sense.
jeff

Alan, we do Reviews, we do News, we DON'T do previews. As you've expressed a slight disinterest/dissatisfaction with the 'structure' that is your right. However, forgive me if i'm wrong, but, if you are so disinterested in the reviews, why complain about something you (clearly) don't want? In other words, if you don't want reviews (in the structure we have), why are you complaining about NOT being able to contibute to them? I'm genuinely confused...Jim

Frank, as always, your words and comments are notable for their common sense - Thanks!

Well Duh! Maybe because you asked? You wanted to know if News and Reviews are useful. To me they are not. Get it now?